New York Knicks purchase D-league team - asks fans to name it

The New York Knicks today confirmed that they have purchased an NBA D-League franchise.

The move sees the development league expand to 18 teams with it's latest franchise set to play at the Westchester County Center, approximately 30 miles north of New York City:

"We are thrilled to work with the New York Knicks and Westchester County to bring NBA D-League basketball to White Plains," said D-League President, Dan Reed.

"The New York area has a rich basketball history and we're excited to give some of the game's best fans the opportunity to watch top NBA prospects up-close and personal in an intimate, family-friendly and affordable environment."

Allan Houston will serve as the new team's General Manager, having previously held the assistant GM position for the Knicks:

"We are very excited to bring a New York Knicks NBA Development League franchise to Westchester, a great basketball community that has embraced the orange and blue, and served as our training home for 25-plus years," he said in an official release.

The Knicks become the seventh NBA team to fully own and run their own D-League affiliate and Houston is hoping the move will give an opportunity to develop players closer to home.

The NBA franchise is also looking to get it's fan involved in the exciting new venture, inviting supporters to choose the name for the new team.

Fans have until March 24 to submit their ideas to NYKnicksDLeague.com, with the best submissions to then be voted on in the weeks following.

The new team will appear in the league as of the 2014-15 campaign and will play 24 regular-season games between November and April:

"What's exciting is that the partnership works on so many levels. It brings professional basketball to the County Center. It offers fans and families a lot of fun and thrills at an affordable price.

"And it will generate revenues and new jobs for the county at no cost to taxpayers. It all adds up to a winning combination," Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino said.

The announcement is another sign that the D-League continues to grow. The New York Knicks themselves currently have five players on their roster with experience in the league.

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